EXCLUSIVE: ‘We are well equipped’: Allen & Heath MD Rob Clark positive about working with ‘extraordinary' team

EXCLUSIVE: ‘We are well equipped’: Allen & Heath MD Rob Clark positive about working with ‘extraordinary' team

Allen & Heath’s new managing director on his team, the dLive console and future customer support

By Tara Lepore, Nov 20, 2017

Mixing console manufacturer Allen & Heath appointed Rob Clark as its managing director last week, following the decision of longstanding company figurehead Glenn Rogers to pass the reins on to the next generation.

Clark, who previously served as R&D director, joined the company in 1993 as a digital engineer and has played a key role in the development of its digital mixers.

We spoke to him about how he hopes to lead the company in his new position.

What are the main assets you hope to bring to the role?

The greatest asset I have is the extraordinary team we have here at A&H. We are all deeply passionate about audio technology and the mixing experience. We all get a buzz from making products and we all love to hear about happy customers.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for Allen & Heath in 2018?

dLive is already making headway in installed solutions, and with the launch of the recent dLive installation hardware, 2018 should see us accelerate further into this market. These product enhancements really change the way dLive can be used in multi-purpose venues like arts centres, conference centres and houses of worship. We’re also excited about the potential for our newly launched compact 96kHz SQ mixers, not just in live sound, but also in the AV and corporate worlds. Of course, we also have some exciting new products in the works.

And what will be the biggest challenges?

As products get more complex, involving networking control and audio, providing the customer with the right support and knowledge base is critical. It’s also important to provide this locally and in the right language. We have recruited heavily in this area, so I think we are well equipped.